Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

Hi Everyone!
I'm sitting in the hotel in Shanghai during a Typhoon and decided to write this up now. Hope you enjoy!!

In the search for vendors..I wanted to find people who were calm, relaxed, and professional. I feel so fortunate to have worked with everyone. They truly made my day special.
More pics to come.

Venue
The Palm House - Brooklyn Botanic Gardens - A+++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Palm House was beyond excellent. The day went seamlessly. The guests truly enjoyed the food - the shrimp were the size of hands, the scallops were big and juicy, etc. I didn't stop getting compliments on the choice of food and service. The Maitre'D (Leigh) was attentive and did not stop to ensure the day went accordingly. There was definitely NO need for a wedding day coordinator - she anticipated anything that possibly went wrong and always greeted me with a smile. Hands down..through the entire process they were beyond my expectations with customer service. Bravo Palm House!!! Hands down recommend!



Limos
Royalty Limosines
A+++++++
They were great. They booked my wedding day with ease and were ever so patient despite me changing the pick up time 3 times!! I even changed it 2 days before the wedding!!! And most importantly - they were on time and the drivers were ever so pleasant. Absolutely no complaints here!


Florist & Invitations
Designs By Rose
Super Duper A++++++++++++++++++
This was one vendor I was in constant communication with during the whole year. Through this process I have learned, I absolutely don't have much talent for understanding what flowers go together. However, Rose and Doris really understand what I wanted - despite my cryptic descriptions. They were soooo patient with me. I think I had to change my flowers and ideas about 10 times (you may think I am lying but I definitely have the emails to prove it). They were helpful and by the end of the process - it almost felt like family. Weird??!?!?!?
I ended up just trusting them because I had a vision of what kind of flowers I wanted to use. Rose did make me a sample...and to be honest...it was absolutely DREADFUL. She also made another sample of what she thought I wanted with the colors I wanted..and it hit it on the head....so after that..I was like...um..."Just do what you do, because I trust you". That's how it went.
We met 2 weeks before the wedding and we went over some final details and changed my bouquet on the spot! I can't say enough to them and definitely recommend them. (I'll post pictures of the bouquets once I get some).




Tailor / Seamstress / Pressers
Hallak Cleaners
A+++++++++++++++++++++
George was personally recommended to me to bustle and fit my dress by the dress designer - Henry Roth. Long story short, I called the phone number on the Henry Roth website and he answered! He was so awesome and had so much positive energy on the phone - it was great!! He recommended George at Hallak cleaners...George was wonderful. My dress is not traditional and needed an untraditional bustle. George was able to quickly understand what needed to be done and my dress came out amazing. He is a perfectionist and made sure people knew EXACTLY how to bustle it and how the dress needed to look...It didn't even look like a "bustle"...it looked like the dress was made that way!! Hallak cleaners was not cheap but definitely worth the money! I highly recommend him - especially for girls who are paranoid (and oh boy, was I paranoid on who touched the dress!!) Everything was done on time and with perfection.

Band
The Rhythm Shop Band
A+++++++++++++++++++++++
What can I say? Again, another great vendor. My mom called me in Shanghai to tell me people are still speaking about them. Even a venue coordinator came out to ask me who they were...she said..you know, I hear a lot of bands in this business and they are excellent - who are they?...no joke! They were great..positive energy...got people on the dance floor..interacted with people. Definitely not your standard band. We even had some spanish music played! People loved them. Through the process..David (owner/band leader/drummer) was always pleasant and helpful. He would always answer emails promptly and paid much attention to my many details.

Hair/Make-Up
Sachiko Yanase/David Kalahiki
A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Amazing! Let's just say..we were up in my studio Manhattan apartment at 4:15 am getting ready with 4 bridesmaids and one mother of the groom! They worked with ease and confidence. They worked quickly and efficiently. David bought and brought the lipstick we used during the trial. We were ready to rock and roll by 8:00 a.m and in the limo by 8:15. Amazing. Everyone looked natural - Sachiko knew exactly how to work everyone's hair and David knew exactly how to make everyone look natural and work with their features. It was great. I love them!

Tired of my A++++'s yet?

Photographers
Henry Leung
Classic & Elegant A++++++++++++++++++++++
I love his work and cannot wait to see the proofs!!!
He was great and so was the 2nd photographer and assistant. My in-laws are Chinese and made them take pictures with ease. (Their first language is Chinese). He worked quickly and with a calm demure. Again - he was on time with a smile! He definitely is NOT photo nazi (demanding we stop and do this and that, etc). I didn't know where he was for most of the time...he was a part of the party taking pictures but did not get in the way of anything. His assistant, Norman, was also wonderful. His comical nature made people smile and enjoy the time we were taking the traditional wedding pictures. I am so happy to have had 2 photographers. I would highly recommend Henry.
I'll post pictures once I can.



Videographer
A+++++++++++++++
Richard Avvento
Richard was great. I found him from theknot.com. I loved his simple style and how he timed the music with the pictures. He is very professional. I am having 2 wedding ceremonies - one in NY and one in Shanghai. My fiance wanted to use raw wedding video that Richard took..Richard is so great..he managed to get the footage onto a DVD so my mother (who is coming to shanghai a little later) can take it to Shanghai. He really helped out and did what he could to make this happen.Thank you!! Again, I didn't know he was there. I didn't have the camera stuck in my face..it was a natural day.
Highly recommend.

Rings
Michael C. Fina - Manhattan
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Just ask for Stephanie or Libby. Again they were so wonderful. They still remember my name and would greet me so (I stopped by unannounced and they still remembered my name). They were excellent. So customer service oriented.

Image Attachment(s):

Message edited 9/19/2007 7:29:39 AM.

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

Congratulations!!! You look beautiful!!!! Hope everything is ok with the typhoon!! Be careful!!!

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

Congrats!!!!!!!

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

Congratulations!!! Everything looked beautiful!!! Best Wishes to the both of you.

~dancer and chef~
charlotte and michael

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

Congratulations! You looked beautiful and I totally agree with you about Designs by Rose - they are FAB!!!

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

Congrats!!!! You looked sooo beautiful!

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

You looked so beautiful!!

OMG, we are also using the Rhythm Shop in less than 2 weeks! I am so excited to see them in action!

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

Congrats! You look beautiful and thanks for sharing your pictures! I also fell in love with the Palm House when we were searching for a wedding venue, they were booked on our day! The food looks fabulous! Enjoy your HM, hopefully the typhoon will pass soon!

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

Congratulations!! You looked sooo beautiful!!

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

thanks everyone!!!

:)

you are the best!!!

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

yeah lisa!!!!

i had a BLAST at your wedding! you looked gorgeous and i LOVED your gown! i've honestly never seen shrimp as large as those--DH was obsessed with them!

the band was awesome and the CP is still alive in my kitchen...

i'm so happy for you and zach! have an awesome second wedding on sunday. i should be getting my pictures developed soon so i'll send you copies.

post more pics when you get them and email me when you can!!!

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

You look gorgeous! Congrats to you and DH!!

Re: Woo-hoo!!! Finally Married!!! Review & Pics!!!

YOu look amazing....and that food
Congrats